Sat, 24 Jun 2017 12:40:00 +0000
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
PLAYER selection for the Zambia Under-17 national soccer team to represent the country at the fourth edition of the COSAFA Championship in Mauritius have intensified with the technical bench moving to Central Province.
In a statement issued on their facebook page, the Football Association of Zambia said the player selection exercise that started with Southern Province last week has moved to Central Province where all the districts have sent their best Under-17 boys to be assessed at Kabwe High School.
FAZ disclosed that former national team assistant coach Chintu Kampamba, who is also Kabwe Warriors head coach, has been engaged to assist in player identification.
A team of 15 lads will be selected from Central Province to join the other boys selected from Southern Province and the other eight provinces.
In Lusaka, the selection will be held this weekend at the National Heroes Stadium by a few selected youth coaches.
The U-17 national team technical bench led by Zanaco coach Numba Mumamba has drafted a program that will bring 150 players across the country to compete for positions at national team.
The selected 150 players will later be camped in Lusaka where the number is expected to be trimmed to 50 and all the players selected will be expected to undergo an MRI scan.
FAZ has given youth coaches across the country the mandate to help identify potential Under-17 national players through the schools program and academies.
Zambia U-17 coach Mumamba will also be expected to extend his selection to the inter-provincial schools’ games billed for Solwezi in July during the four-day break.
Zambia’s first U-17 assignment is the COSAFA Championship in Mauritius where Zambia has been drawn in Group B alongside South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar.
The tournament takes place from July 21-31.
